Frontgrade Gaisler to commercialise neuromorphic AI for space

The Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA) has awarded Frontgrade Gaisler, a leading provider of radiation-hardened microprocessors for space missions, a contract to commercialize the first neuromorphic System on Chip (SoC) device for space applications. The device, currently under development at Frontgrade Gaisler, is part of the recently announced GRAIN (Gaisler Research Artificial Intelligence NOEL-V) product line.

The first GRAIN device in the product line is the Gr801 SoC, which integrates Akida™ neuromorphic technology from BrainChip, the first commercial producer of ultra-low power, fully digital, event-based, neuromorphic AI.

The GR801 combines Gaisler’s NOEL-V RISC-V processor with the Akida neuromorphic AI processor into a single integrated circuit, facilitating energy-efficient AI applications in space. Sweden’s Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) is contributing to this initiative by designing a demonstration application that utilizes a neuromorphic sensor directly connected to Gaisler’s new GR801 device.

Frontgrade Gaisler is designing the entire GRAIN product line to facilitate more advanced and autonomous space missions and to enhance the capabilities of the space industry in energy-efficient AI. The GR801 SoC will support both commercial and institutional space missions, enabling new applications while adhering to strict power and weight constraints.

“Our latest innovation opens new avenues and complements our existing range of proven and reliable processing products,” said Sandi Habinc, General Manager at Frontgrade Gaisler. “GRAIN is an exciting new pursuit for Gaisler because we are well positioned to enable new capabilities for real-time data processing, autonomous navigation, Earth observation, and object detection and tracking.”

“Our continued collaboration with Frontgrade Gaisler to incorporate Akida IP into space SoCs showcases the importance of having environmentally hardened solutions, already proven to perform in the most extreme conditions,” said Sean Hehir, CEO of BrainChip. “We have worked hard to ensure our neuromorphic technology can meet the low-energy, low-latency, high-performance needs of GRAIN and other space-based devices in order to provide AI at — and beyond — the edge.”

Frontgrade Gaisler announced its new GRAIN product line at the second RISC-V in Space Workshop 2025, in Gothenburg, Sweden.